EFFECT OF PROPRIOCEPTIVE TRAINING ON BALANCE, FUNCTIONAL MOBILITY, AND PAIN IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC NEUROPATHY: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is one of the most challenging complications of diabetes, causing nerve damage that affects sensation, balance, movement, and often results in chronic pain. These issues make daily activities harder, increase the risk of falls, and reduce independence, particularly in rural communities with limited healthcare access. Traditional physiotherapy mainly focuses on strength, stretching, and pain relief, but often overlooks problems with sensory perception and coordination. Proprioceptive training, which improves body awareness and balance, has been successfully used in conditions like stroke and Parkinson’s disease, but its role in DN is less explored. In this randomized controlled trial, 120 participants aged 40–70 with DN from rural and tribal areas of Sirohi district, Rajasthan, were studied. They were randomly assigned to either a control group (standard physiotherapy) or an intervention group (standard physiotherapy plus proprioceptive training), with sessions three times a week for 12 weeks. Balance was measured using the Berg Balance Scale and Sway Balance Test, mobility with the Timed Up and Go test, and pain with the Numeric Pain Rating Scale. The results showed that the intervention group had significant improvements in balance, mobility, and pain compared to the control group. This suggests that adding proprioceptive training to conventional therapy can greatly benefit DN patients, especially in resource-limited rural areas, helping them maintain independence and improve quality of life. Keywords: diabetic neuropathy, proprioceptive training, balance, mobility, pain, rural rehabilitation, randomized controlled trial